Shoe fastener having a latchable buckle and a looped strap



Jan. 11, 1966 R. E JoNEs ETAL 3,228,079

SHOE FASTENER HAVING A LATCHABLE BUCKLE AND A LOOPED STRAP Filed Feb. 12, 1964 United States Patent O 3,228,079 SHE FASTENER HAVING A LATCHABLE BUCKLE AND A LGOPED STRAP Ralph E. Jones, 4150 Bedford Drive, San Diego, Calif.; Hugo Mahler, 10030 Sunset Ave., La Mesa, Calif.; and Charles E. Weller, 77 Puritan Drive, Warwick, RJ. Filed Feb. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 344,386 S Claims. (Cl. 24-193) This invention relates to a fastener for shoes and the like in which a closure strap is used which extends laterally across and above the foot of the wearer. Reference may be had to at least one other closely related and copending application by two of these same inventors; i.e., Serial No. 199,077, tiled May 31, 1962, now Patent No. 3,206,819.

The important objects of this invention are to provide an attractive, economical, time-saving, highly ethcient, durable, and trouble-free fastener for shoes. Further objects include providing a shoe fastener which can be latched and unlatched easily, instantly, and reliably, while insuring against inadvertent unlatching, and one that can be at any time adjusted with permanence for controlling the tension across the foot of the wearer. A further object is to provide a shoe fastener which can be adjusted for any thickness of foot at the initial fitting, the excess of closure strap being at that time cut away; and one that is entirely suitable for wear by men, women, and children.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shoe fastener which is suitable for use on high boots, which usage may in some instances require that a plurality of these fasteners be placed on each boot.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a shoe fastener for use with a shoe of the type that includes an upper having two spaced flaps one of which is provided with a transverse closure strap of a length to span the space between the flaps and to overlie the other of the flaps, the shoe fastener being capable of releasably securing the closure strap to the other ap and including a base seated against the upper surface of the other flap and having means for securing the base to the other llap, a shell adjustably connectable to the closure strap and adaptable to overlie the base, means for connecting the shell to the closure strap including a locking pin adapted to releasably clamp a portion of the closure strap at a particular point thereof as adjustment against the interior surface of the shell, a latching element carried by the shell, a latching element on the base and engageable in hools'ed relation with the latching element carried by the shell in response to movement of the shell relative to the base in a direction to cause the shell to overlie the base and when the shell is overlying the base, and the latching elements being disengageable from the hooked relationship by forcing the shell in the direction for the latching and by lifting the forward end of the shell upwardly from the base, and the shell having a wall extending substantially transversely to the direction of movement of the shell for overlying the base and engageable by the users thumb in moving the shell relative to the base in a direction to engage the latching elements in hooked relation and to disengage the latching elements from the hooked relation.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features, and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features, and results thereof, which will be evident to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiments described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe with its improved fastener thereon in the closed wearing position;

3,2Z79 Patented Jan. l1, 1.966

ICC

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fastener in the closed position taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the bottom of the fastener shell;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan View of the base of the fastener;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the fastener shell;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the bottom of an alternative embodiment of the fastener shell; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of the shell of the shoe fastener.

Referring to FIG. l of the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a shoe shown as having a closure strap 11 and a pair of outer shoe flaps 12 and 12A. A shoe fastener 13 is installed on the Shoe 10 and serves to adjustably connect the outer shoe ilaps 12 and 12A. As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the shoe fastener 13 includes a base 14 and a shell 15. The base 14 may be secured to the outer shoe ap 12 by a rpair of rivets 16 which extend through holes 17 and 17A in the base 14.

The base 14, as shown in FIG. 6, -resembles an isosceles triangle having a rounded apex. Forming the rounded apex is a at securing tab 1S having the rivet hole 17 located therein and adapted to receive a rivet 16. An inclined upper portion 19 slopes upwardly and away from the iiat securing tab 18 and terminates in a transverse end wall 20 which extends downwardly toward the shoe flap 12. Formed integrally with the end wall 20 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a lower portion 22.

The inclined upper portion 19 of the base 14 provides diverging tapered edges 23 sloping outwardly and away from the securing tab 18 at the rounded apex of the isosceles triangle and having guide flanges 24 extending upwardly therefrom (FIGS. 2 and 6).

The rivet hole 17A is located in the lower portion 22 of the base 14, and a larger hole 26 is located in the upper incline-d portion 19 and serves to provide access to the rivet 16 positioned within the rivet hole 17A in the lower portion 22. A latching slot 28 is located in the end wall 26 at the lateral midpoint thereof and extends partially into the upper inclined portion 19.

The shell 15 has a substantially rectangular configuration when viewed either from above or below. However, viewed laterally, as in FIG. 2 of the drawing, it provides a top surface 29 having a curved central portion 29A extending upwardly a short distance from the respective ends of said shell and terminating in a transverse forward wall 30 having a downwardly and rearwardly extending hook-shaped tab latch 32.

At the opposing end of the shell 15 a tongue 34 is provided extending downwardly from the curved top surface 29 and then bent inwardly and upwardly to engage the underside of the top surface 29. Thus, the tongue 34 defines a short rearwardly facing wall 36 and a short inwardly sloping wall 38.

The shell 15 provides a pair of vertical side walls 40 which extend downwardly from the top surface 29, a distance less than the distance between the top of the inclined upper portion of the base and the lower portion thereof, and at the bottom thereof and near the tongue 34, bend inwardly toward one another, thus defining a pair of adjacent tabs 42. The vertical side walls 40 extend forwardly throughout the entire length of the shell 15 and terminate at their lower forward ends in rounded 3 corners 44 which are curved to avoid scraping or cutting the leather of the shoe 10. The inwardly directed tabs 42 and the inwardly sloping wall 38 define a tapered interior portion of the shell 47.

The closure strap 11 may be secured to the shell 15 by inserting the closure strap through an opening 45 defined by the lower edge of the rearwardly facing wall 36 and the rearward edges of the tabs 42 a suflicient distance to pass over and around a flattened pivot pin 46 and to be doubled back on itself as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The flattened pivot pin 46 is pivotally mounted within a pair of holes 48 located in the side walls 40 of the shell 15. When viewed from either the side or bottom as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawing, the pin 46 is shown as providing a flattened central portion 50 extending forwardly of the pivot axis. In addition, a central recess 52 is located in the forward edge of the flattened portion 50 and a larger recess 54 is located in the rearward edge thereof.

To adjustably lock the closure strap 11 within the shell 15, the free end of the strap 11 may be inserted within the opening 45, urged over and around the pin 46, and then doubled back on itself to pass out of the opening 45. The free end of the closure strap 11 is then pulled rearwardly around the pin 46 which is in a neutral or substantially horizontal position as shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 2. When the desired strap length is achieved, the end of the closure strap 11 is released and the shell is urged in a direction to place the strap 11 under tension. As the shell 15 is pulled in a direction away from the strap 11, the flattened pin 46 will pivot counterclockwise toward the position shown in full lines in FIG. 2. Thus, the bend in the closure strap 11 will be forced into a releasably locked position between the inwardly sloping wall 38 and the underside of the top 29 of the shell 15 and the forward edge of the flattened pin 46. This engagement of the doubled over closure strap 11 with the inwardly sloping wall 38 and the underside of the top 29 of the shell 15 will cause the closure strap 11 to be releasably secured to the shell during use. To further secure the closure strap 11 within the shell 15, adjacent corners 48 of the tabs 42 may be crimped upwardly into the closure strap 11 to form a direct lock therewith.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show alternative embodiments of the shell 15. FIGS. 7 and 8 show the shell 15 as including tapered side walls 140 extending downwardly from the top 29, narrowing in width, and terminating in rounded corners 144 at the lower forward end thereof. The shell 15 also provides larger inwardly directed tabs 142 than the tabs 42 shown on the primary embodiment in FIG. 5. Moreover, a tongue 134 is provided extending downwardly from the top 29 and then bent inwardly and upwardly to engage the underside of the top 29. This configuration of the tongue 134 defines a rearwardly facing inclined wall 136 and an inwardly and upwardly slopin wall138.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the closure strap 11 may be secured to the shell 15 by inserting it through an opening 145 defined by the lower edge of the rearwardly facing inclined wall 136 and the rearward edges of the tabs 142, a sufficient distance to be doubled back on itself as shown in FIG. 7. Once the strap 11 is doubled back on itself a thickening element such as a cylinder 146 may be inserted in the bend of the strap 11 and may be shorter than the width of the strap 11. To releasably lock the strap 11 within the shell 15, the strap may then be pulled rearwardly toward the opening 145 until the bend in the strap 11, supported by the thickening element 146, engages the inwardly sloping wall 138 of the shell 15. This engagement of the doubled over closure strap 11 with the inwardly sloping wall 138 of the shell 15 will cause the closure strap to be releasably secured to the shell during use.

In addition, FIG. 9 shows still another alternative embodiment of the shell 15, in that the inclined wall 136 facing rearwardly of the shell 15 is provided with an upwardly extending lip 137. The lip 137 serves to increase the engageable surface area of the inclined wall 136.

In actual operation, the user wearing the shoe 10 and having the shoe fastener 13 mounted thereon may position the shell 15 adjacent the flat securing tab 18 of the base 14. The user may then place his thumb against the rearwardly facing wall 36 located at the rear of the shell and by urging the thumb forward the shell 15 is moved forwardly into engagement with the base 14. The movement of the shell 15 into engagement with the base 14 causes the downwardly extending side walls 40 to initially slidably engage the sloping guide flanges 24 of the inclined upper portion 19, which serves to guide the shell 15 relative to the base 14. As the shell 15 is moved over the base 14 by the users thumb, the guide flanges 24 will ultimately guide the side walls 40 until the shell 15 is centered relative to the base 14.

As the shell 15 is moved over the base 14, the downwardly and rearwardly extending tab latch 32, having been centered as a result of the coaction between the side walls 40 and the guide flanges 24, rides over the upper inclined portion 19 and drops down over the end wall 20. At this time, the pressure exerted by the thumb is released and the tension on the closure strap 11, caused by the presence of the users foot within the shoe, causes the tab latch 32 to recede into locking engagement within the latching slot 28 and beneath the inclined upper portion 19. In this connection, it should be noted that the hole 26 in the upper inclined portion 19 is slightly smaller than the tab latch 32 so as to avoid engagement therewith as the tab latch rides over the base 14.

In the event either of the shells 15 shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 of the drawing is employed, the thumb of the user will engage the inclined wall 136 which has an area larger than that provided by the inclined wall 36 shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Thus, a more efficient closing operation will be effected.

To unlatch the shoe fastener 10, the users thumb and forefinger may be employed. Forwardly directed pressure is applied by the thumb at the wall 36 and an upwardly directed pressure is applied to the shell 15 adjacent the two latching elements 32 and 28. Thus, the shell 15 will be moved forwardly relative to the base 14 until the hookshaped tab latch 32 is moved forwardly and free of the slot 28 and the upper portion 19. At this time, and while the thumb of the user is still applying a forward pressure on the wall 36, the users forefinger may then urge the forward end of the shell 15 free of the base 14. The shell 15 may then be lifted completely clear of the base 14 by exerting an upward pressure with the forefinger on the transverse forward wall 30. Once the tab latch 32 has been liftedclear of the base 14, the pressure exerted by the thumb on the wall 36 may then be released and the shell 15 will recede rearwardly and away from the base 14 without permitting the tab latch 32 to reengage the latching slot 28. Thus, the closure strap 11 and the shell 15 may be pulled completely free from the base 14.

Although exemplary embodiments -of the invention have been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow.

We claim as our invention:

1. A shoe fastener for use with a shoe of the type that includes an upper having two spaced flaps one of which is provided with a transverse closure strap of a length to span the space between said flaps and to overlie the other of said flaps, said shoe fastener being capable of releasably securing said closure strap to said other iiap, and including the combination of:

a base having a lower portion seated against the upper surface of said other ap and having means for securing said base to said other flap, and an upper inclined portion having diverging tapered edges on each side thereof;

a shell substantially box-like in shape and adjustably connectible to said closure strap, said shell being adapted to overlie said base and having side walls extending downwardly from each side thereof;

means for connecting said shell to said closure strap including a locking pin adapted to releasably clamp a portion of said closure strap at a particular point thereof as adjustment against the interior surface of said shell;

a latching element carried by said shell;

a latching element on the upper portion of said base and engageable in hooked relation with the latching element carried by said shell in response to movement of said shell relative to said base in a direction to overlie said base and when said shell is overlying said base, and said latching elements being disengageable from said hooked relationship by forcing said shell in the direction for said latching and by lifting the forward end of said shell upwardly from said hase;

means for guiding said latching elements into hooked interengagement when said shell is moved relative to said base and in a direction to overlie said base, including the engagement of the diverging tapered edges of the upper portion of said base with the side walls of said shell in order to center said shell relative to said base; and

said shell having a wall extending substantially trans` versely to the direction of movement of said shell when moved to a position overlying said base, said wall being engageable by the users thumb in moving said shell relative to said base in said direction to engage said latching elements in hooked relation and to disengage said latching elements from said hooked relation.

2. A shoe fastener according to claim 1 wherein:

said shell provides a top surface having a curved central portion which extends upwardly above the respective ends of said shell;

said shell substantially completely covers said base when in a latched position overlying said base;

said latching element carried by said shell includes a hook extending downwardly from the top surface of said shell and from the forward end thereof, and said hook extending rearwardly at the end thereof;

said base provides a transverse member connecting said lower portion and said upper portion;

said latching element of said base includes a slot located in said transverse member;

said diverging tapered edges of the upper portion of said base provide upwardly extending guide anges for insuring engagement with the inner surfaces of the side walls of said shell; and

said base is secured to said other flap by means of rivets,

and upper portion of said base provides an Opening therein to facilitate the securing of at least one of said rivets therebelow between the lower portion of said base and said other ap.

3. A shoe fastener according to claim 1 wherein said locking pin is substantially flattened and is pivotally mounted within opposed holes located in the side walls of said shell, and wherein said vflattened pin will rotate in response to movement of said closure strap in a direction to withdraw said strap from said shell s0 as to urge said strap into locked engagement between said locking pin and the interior surface of said shell.

4. A shoe fastener according to claim 3 wherein said closure strap is doubled over and around said flattened pin.

5. A shoe fastener according to claim 1 wherein said shell provides an Opening therein and a tapered interior portion adjacent said opening, said closure strap is inserted through said opening into said shell and is doubled back on itself to form a loop, and said locking pin is positioned within the loop formed by said doubled back portion of said closure strap to enlarge said loop to a size greater than said opening and prevent withdrawal of said closure strap from said tapered interior portion of said shell.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,972,173 2/1961 Weber 24-171 3,078,538 2/1963 Brown 24-77 X 3,139,661 7/1964 Sixty 24-230 FOREIGN PATENTS 257,433 3/1913 Germany.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S, MEHR, Examiner. 

1. A SHOE FASTENER FOR USE WITH A SHOE OF THE TYPE THAT INCLUDES AN UPPER HAVING TWO SPACED FLAPS ONE OF WHICH IS PROVIDED WITH A TRANSVERSE CLOSURE STRAP OF A LENGTH TO SPAN THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID FLAPS AND TO OVERLIE THE OTHER OF SAID FLAPS, SAID SHOE FASTENER BEING CAPABLE OF RELEASABLY SECURING SAID CLOSURE STRAP TO SAID OTHER FLAP, AND INCLUDING THE COMBINATION OF: A BASE HAVING A LOWER PORTION SEATED AGAINST THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID OTHER FLAP AND HAVING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID BASE TO SAID OTHER FLAP, AND AN UPPER INCLINED PORTION HAVING DIVERGING TAPERED EDGES ON EACH SIDE THEREOF; A SHELL SUBSTANTIALLY BOX-LIKE IN SHAPE AND ADJUSTABLY CONNECTIBLE TO SAID CLOSURE STRAP, SAID SHELL BEING ADAPTED TO OVERLIE SAID BASE AND HAVING SIDE WALLS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM EACH SIDE THEROF; MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SHELL TO SAID CLOSURE STRAP INCLUDING A LOCKING PIN ADAPTED TO RELEASABLY CLAMP A PORTION OF SAID CLOSURE STRAP AT A PARTICULAR POINT THEREOF AS ADJUSTMENT AGAINST THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID SHELL; A LATCHING ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID SHELL; A LATCHING ELEMENT ON THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID TUBE AND ENGAGEABLE IN HOOKED RALTION WITH THE LATCHING ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID SHELL IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID SHELL RELATIVE TO SAID BASE IN A DIRECTION TO OVERLIE SAID BASE AND WHEN SAID SHELL IS OVERLYING SAID BASE, AND SAID LATCHING ELEMENTS BEING DISENGAGEABLE FROM SAID HOOKED RELATIONSHIP BY FORCING SAID SHELL IN THE DIRECTION FOR SAID LATCHING AND BY LIFTING THE FORWARD END OF SAID SHELL UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE; MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID LATCHING ELEMENTS INTO HOOKED INTERENGAGEMENT WHEN SAID SHELL IS MOVED RELATIVE TO SAID BASE AND IN A DIRECTION TO OVERLIE SAID BASE, INCLUDING THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE DIVERGING TAPERED EDGES OF THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BASE WITH THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID SHELL IN ORDER TO CENTER SAID SHELL RELATIVE TO SAID BASE; AND SAID SHELL HAVING A WALL EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSELY TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID SHELL WHEN MOVED TO A POSITION OVERLYING SAID BASE, SAID WALL BEING ENGAGEABLE BY THE USER''S THUMB IN MOVING SAID SHELL RELATIVE TO SAID BASE IN SAID DIRECTION TO ENGAGE SAID LATCHING ELEMENTS IN HOOKED RALTION AND TO DISENGAGE SAID LATCHING ELEMENTS FROM SAID HOOKED RELATION. 